Vernon School Board Member Brown To Run For State House Seat

VERNON, CT — Kevin Brown, a Democratic member of the Vernon Board of Education for the past five years, has announced his candidacy for the 56th District seat in the Connecticut House of Representatives.

Brown, 40, made the announcement Thursday in front of the Vernon school administration building flanked by family members and supporters.

Here's his Patch profile from last fall's election.

Incumbent Democrat Michael Winkler is not running for re-election. Brown is a high school civics teacher and an active coach in youth sports locally.

Here is the transcript of Brown's announcement:

Good afternoon!

Thank you all for taking time to join me here today.

Thank you, Representative Winkler, for your dedicated service to this community and for your personal guidance throughout this process. I would also like to thank my parents, Guy and Charlene Brown, for raising me to care for others, and to understand the importance of education in our lives. I would also like to give special thanks to my wife Christina, my son Jacob, and my daughter Emilie for their unconditional love and support of this endeavor. You inspire me daily, and without you all, I would not be standing here today.

Five years ago, I made the decision to run for the Vernon Board of Education because it was time for me to live up to my own expectations. As a father, I wanted my children to place value on giving back to a community that has
provided them so much. As a high school civics teacher, I have spent my entire career building students up to actively participate in their communities. By 2017, it was time for me to lead by example.

While teaching has taught me about empathy, having served on the Board of Education for over 4 years has taught me that there is great value in listening ... Listening to the ideas of my fellow board members. Listening to the needs of
concerned community members. Listening to people whose opinions are different from my own.

Most importantly, listening as a means of building consensus and finding compromise. This important skill has allowed me to work with people across ideologies to do what is in the best interest of the children and families that we serve.

If you had told me a few years ago that I would be running for State Representative at this point in my life, I would have given your quite a chuckle.

They say all politics is local, and I’ve been happy to serve on our Board of Education to ensure we have safe schools and high-quality teachers, and continued student success. However, what we see happening in our country, our
State, and even here in Vernon-Rockville over the last few years has been gut-wrenching to watch. Things are just not the same anymore, politics are not same anymore, people appear more hateful than they ever did before. We seem to have lost the ability to see the humanity in those who do not share our own core beliefs. While it may sound naïve to think we can come back from such ugliness, personally, I am not yet willing to throw in the towel.

I love this state, and I take great pride in our Vernon/Rockville community. As I look at my 2 children I think back to when I was their age, how safe it was to learn and grow. How politicians worked across the aisle for the greater good. I want this for my students, my children, and your children as well! One of the things I have learned in life is if you want something done right, sometimes you must do it yourself!

I want to do my part to make sure CT and Vernon continue to be a great place to live, to go to school, to raise a family, to be safe, happy and prosperous, to enjoy all that life has to offer. After witnessing the divisions and vitriol that have plagued us in recent years, I feel compelled to take up the torch that Mike Winkler has carried so well, to represent Vernon’s 56th district in our State Capitol.

Today, I am honored, and proud, to announce that I am running for State Representative for all of you. I’m humbled at this opportunity, and at the confidence you all have in me. I am humbled that Representative Winkler believes in my ability to work with people on all sides to do what’s in the best interest of our community. I will not pretend to have all the answers to the questions that we face in Vernon and the state of Connecticut. However, I am committed to listening to the diverse voices of our community. I am committed to listening to all ideas, regardless of their source, in order to reach reasonable solutions to all of the challenges we face.

I am running for this office because I care about each and every one of you. Across all ages, races, genders, and socio-economic classes. From the kids I’ve taught and coached, to the families I meet at PTO meetings, to the senior citizens who helped to build our town throughout the years. It is your needs, and not my own, that I seek to represent in Hartford. I firmly believe, as a community, we can rise above these ills that plague us and seek a brighter future. I ask that you allow me to do my part by standing up for you! I ask for your support today, and in November. Thank you all very much!